The Unchosen #2 Review

 

Writer & Artist: David Marquez

Colorist: Marissa Louise

Letterer & Designer: DC Hopkins

Editor: Lauren Sankovitch

Cover Artists: David Marquez & Nick Derington

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 13, 2025

 

When Aida awakened in a pit, Alex and Vasha found her. The girl didn't recognize them and ran away to find her mother. Soldiers tried to arrest her. Then four people appeared, wielding astonishing powers. While Vasha fought them off, Alex summoned a glowing portal. As she fell through it, Aida glimpsed memories of her mother. What happened to Aida’s mother? And what do Alex and Vasha want with her? Let’s leap into The Unchosen #2 and see!

 

Story

In David Marquez’s story, Alex and Vasha brought Aida to their school. Alex agrees to help her find her mother. But first, Aida must learn to protect herself. Otherwise, people like the soldiers, and the dark-garbed warriors Vasha fought would capture her. Aida doesn't understand the dangers surrounding her. She yearns to return to the hillside cabin she shares with her mom.

 

As she attends to her studies, Aida feels like she doesn't fit in. She cannot use The Word like the other students. Her friend, Daniel, may be a slow learner. But even he admits that she seems to be taking too long to master the basics. The Novitiate needs people to fight those who use their power to inflict pain and destruction. Yet like the legendary Korra, who struggled to master air-bending, Aida feels like a failure.

 

The Unchosen #2 takes us into Aida's memories. Or at least, those she can remember. After Alex and Vasha brought her to the school, Aida awakened from a nightmare involving her mother. Daniel was the first to welcome her. Despite her fears, Daniel assured Aida that if Alex and Vasha sought her out, she belonged.

 

Aida and Daniel may not run with the cool crowd. Still, the friends realize that responsibility comes with power. The first time we saw Daniel, he cradled a bird in his hands and cried because he couldn’t revive it. Aida struggles with her anger, and her frequent use of profanity shows she doesn’t respect the damage that words can inflict. Still, we learn why Alex befriended Aida’s mother, and why he believes Aida can wield The Word responsibly in The Unchosen #2.

 

Art

Aida remembers standing on the hillside beside her mother. After gazing down into the valley and out to sea, she awakens in a darkened room. Out in the hall, Aida sees the moon rising above a river twisting between hills through towering wall windows. When she whirls at Daniel’s appearance, the boy moves to leave before a view of a distant waterfall. The two regard each other in close-ups. Then, David Marquez pulls back to reveal how their Asgardian surroundings dwarf the young students.

 

After Aida leaves the bluish-gray hall, she bursts into Alex's office. Like Vasha, he wears white and red. His brown robe links Alex with the book-filled shelves covering the walls and the desk filled with papers. Two green objects unite Alex with Aida. Golden trees grow between the towering wall windows and glow in the dark alcoves of the dining hall, imbuing the school with a regal flair. Yet Marissa Louise saves the most vibrant coloring for an evening rendezvous. Orange, red, and purple fill the skies as Alex and Vasha accompany Aida. When Aida arrives for her fateful meeting, yellow and orange rage in The Unchosen #2.

 

DC Hopkins fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters that grow bold for intonation, swell for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Off-camera dialogue appears in beige and lavender narrative boxes. The merged halves of the same person stand before two types of writing. An unseen breeze whips Aida's hair as furious white scribbles and colors banish the darkness. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

School dominates our lives and shapes our characters. Yet few students choose the schools they attend. Then, there are the people we must befriend, or at least learn to get along with. As Aida struggles to understand why she must attend this school at the end of the world, the girl wrestles with why she cannot master the basics of the curriculum in The Unchosen #2.

 

Rating 9/10

 

For how this series began see my review of The Unchosen #1.